The case rates are seen as “high” before peak respiratory virus season.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of a significant increase in respiratory illnesses, with four specific viruses causing concern: flu, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus.
The surge is affecting 35 states, including South Carolina, and local healthcare providers report similar trends throughout the Carolinas.
North Carolina’s Respiratory Virus Summary Dashboard shows respiratory symptoms now account for 13% of all emergency room visits, marking a notable increase in cases.
“This time of year, in the winter season, we’re seeing a lot of respiratory viruses that are going around,” said Dr. Cramer McCullen, a family medicine physician at Novant Health.
Experts suggest the surge might be linked to relaxed COVID-era precautions.
“Over the past few years, we’ve been really focused on COVID,” McCullen explained. “With masking, people were a lot more cautious in terms of keeping their hands washed, keeping surfaces clean, a little bit more social distancing. As we’ve seen those kinds of regulations relax, I think we’re probably just having more contact with each other than we did in the past few years.”
In response to the surge, major healthcare systems including Novant and Atrium Health have implemented new precautions, including restricting hospital visits from children 13 and younger.
“When we hit that kind of tipping point where we’re really seeing a high burden within our communities, within our hospitals, we layer on additional measures to make sure our most at-risk patients are as safe as possible within our walls,” said Dr. Katie Passaretti, an infectious diseases specialist at Atrium.
Healthcare providers emphasize that prevention, particularly vaccination against preventable respiratory illnesses, remains crucial.
“It’s not too late to get the flu shot,” McCullen said. “We think the flu season lasts through March to early April. Now, it does take a couple of weeks to give you full protection from the flu. So I would go ahead and talk to your pharmacy or doctor’s office about that.”
Medical experts urge anyone experiencing difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, or worsening symptoms to seek immediate medical attention through their physician or nearby urgent care clinic.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
